Orchard or field heating and irrigating apparatus



M. E. S'EEBER r 2,003,520 0 June 4, 1935.

ORCHARD OR FIELD HEATING AND IRRIGATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1931 I 0 INVENTOR MPO/YE/S ATTORNEY Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES;

PATENT, OFFICE oacnaan oarmnn HEATING AND maroar-me mm'rus m E. Seeber, San Diego. Calif. Application September}, 1931, Serial No, 501,33 4 Claims. (01. ire-59.5)

Second, to provide an apparatus of this class. v which eliminates the need of smudge pots or other cumbersome and dangerous means for preventing the formation of frost.

Third, to provide an apparatus of this class which readily lends itself to automatic control, thereby reducing to a minimum the period during which the furnace need be in operation.

Fourth, to provide an apparatus of this class which discharges the heated gases lat'erallias well as upwardly so as to form a heated blanket of air above the ground capable of protecting truck gardens, as well as orchards; and

Fifth, to provide an apparatus of this class which is positive and efficient in its action, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order. h

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination" and arrangement of parts and portionsas will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatical view of my apparatus; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view through 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the distributing valves.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

Furnace I, soot collecting screens 2, soot divert; ing plates 3, partition 4, heating means 5, main gas conduit 6, blower I, motor 8, main gas valve 9, main water line III, main water valve II, distributor head I2, distributing pipes II, sprinkler pipes I4, sprinklers I l, sump I6, drain valve i1, and insulation II, constitute the principal parts and portions of my novel orchard or field heating and irrigating apparatus.

The furnace I forms a completely enclosed chamber including vertical walls from which are supported a plurality of parallel disposed sloping screens 2, arranged one above the others. The

through the furnace,

screens do not extend'thefull diameter of the furnace but are connectedat their lower ends to plates 3. The plates! terminate a short distance from the adjacent wall of the furnace forming passages la. The screens retard the flow of gases so that the soot collects thereon and tends to pass downwardly thereon and on to the plates 8. The plates 1 are arranged at such an angle that the soot slides. therefrom and falls down the passages Ia to the bottom of the furnace. This portionof the furnace forms a soot collecting chamber A, which is separated from the fire box, designated B, by a partition I, which extends upwardly to the first soot diverting "plate a.

The firing chamber B is provided with a suitable heating means I, which is connected to a suitable source of fuel supply to. Below the heating means 5, there is provided a suitable air inlet la; 1

The upper end of the furnace I is connected to a main gas conduit i, which is joined to the intake side of a blower I. The blower I is drivenby a suitable motor 8. The outlet end of the blower I is equippedwith a main gas valve 9. Continuing from the main gas valve 8 is a short pipe 90, to which is connected the main water line III, a main water valve II being provided in the line I0, adiacent the stub pipe 8a. The'stub pipe 9a connects to a distributor head I2, or other suitable means for supplying gas or water to a distributing system.

Each of the several outlets of the distributor head I! is connected to -a distributing pipe I3. Each distrbiuting pipe I3 is positioned underneath the ground far enough to clear any of the various tools .used in the cultivation of the orchard or truck garden with which my apparatus is associated. At various suitable locations each distributing pipe II is provided with upwardly extending, protruding sprinkler pipes I4.

The upper end of each sprinkler pipe I4 is equipped with a sprinkler II. The sprinkler I5 includes a body member Ila, which is screwed upon the upper end of the sprinkler pipe II. The lower portion of the body member Ila is provided with a valve seat ISb. The upper end of the body member Iia is provided with a cap I 50, which is provided with a packing gland lid. The packing gland I 5d supports a valve stem lie, the upper end of which is equipped with a handle, while the lower end is provided with a valve member III adapted to coact with the valve seat lib. These parts are made of suitable metal capable of withstanding the action of water or of heated gases. Above the valve seat III), the body member in is provided with a plurality of substantially laterally extending openings or ports ilg.

Each distributing pipe I3 is so arranged as to have a point thereof lower than the remaining portion of the pipe so that said pipe and the sprinkler pipes connected therewith may be completely drained. At this portion of each distribution pipe 13, there is provided a sump I. and a suitable drain valve l1.

It is preferred to. cover the furnace l, the main gas conduit 6, the distributing pipes 13, the sprinkling pipes l4, and all other portions of the apparatus from which heat may be dissipated with a blanket of insulation I8. The insulation is shown broken away or removed in portions to facilitate the illustration.

Operation of my orchard or fieldheating and irrigating apparatus is as follows:

The furnace is preferablylocated in a central p0.- sitionwithrespecttothefield or orchard which it is desired to heat in order to reduce the length of the various distributing pipes to. a minimum.

During the season for irrigation, the valve 9 is closed and the valve ii is open so that water flows through the various distributing pipes i3 and out the various sprinklers 15, the drain valve I! being closed during this period.

When the orchard or field is'in danger of frost, the valve I1 is opened so as to drain the distributing pipes i3 associated therewith, whereupon the valve I1 is again closed. The valve ll of course is closed and the valve 9 is opened. The furnace I and blower are then set in operation whereupon the heated gases, from which the larger quantity of soot has been removed by means of the screens 2, passbut the main air conduit 6 through the blower 1- and into the various distributing pipes II. From the distributing pipes, the heated gases pass out of the various sprinklers l5. I

It is obvious of course that the furnace and blower may be thermostatically controlled so that they commence their operation automatically whenever the temperature drops to a predetermined point. I

Though I have shown and described a-particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an orchard or field'heating apparatus, the combination with a fluid distributing system, of a heater including a closed casing with an outlet opening at its upper side connecting with said distributing system, a plurality of superposed angularly positioned soot collecting screens near one side of said casing with their lower edges spaced from the side wall of said casing, and a fuel burner positioned under the lowermost screen.

2. In an orchard or fieldheating apparatus, the combination with a fluid distributing system, of a heater including a casing with an outlet opening at its upper side connecting with said distributing system, a plurality of superposed anguiarly positioned soot collecting screens near one side of said casing, a fuel burner positioned under the lowermost screen, and a soot diverting plate with its lower edge spaced from the side wall of said casing extending from the lower edge of each of said screens for diverting the soot downwardly out of the path ofthe heat circulation.

3. In an'o'rchard or field heating apparatus the combination with a distributing system, of a heater includinga casing with an outlet opening at its upper side connecting with said distributing' system, a plurality of superposed angularly positioned screens positioned with their higher edges at the opposite side from the outlet of said casing, a'partition in said casing below the lower edges of said screens dividing the lower side of said casing below said screens into a fuel burner compartment and a soot collecting compartment, a fuel burner positioned in said fuel burner compartment positioned under the lowermost of said screens.

4. In an orchard or field heating apparatus, the combination with a distributing system, of a heater including a casing with an outlet opening at its upper side connecting with said distributing system, a plurality of superposed angularly positioned screens positioned with their higher edges at the opposite side from the outlet of said casing,

a partition in said casing below the lower edges. 

